Abstract

For the last five years the medical literature on the therapy of diabetes mellitus has dealt generously with the use of the oral hypoglycemic agents. The indications and limitations of these drugs are now clear. Their use is limited to the patient with maturity-onset diabetes. They are ineffective in the patient with growth-onset diabetes who lacks endogenous insulin. The limited applicability of the oral hypoglycemic agents has re-emphasized the importance of insulin. Insulin, when used correctly, is effective in all patients with diabetes. The proper use of insulin must be mastered by those accepting the responsibility of the care of